Rolling preventer for grenades

ABSTRACT

A rolling preventer for reducing rolling movements of a grenade, wherein the rolling preventer has at least one hindering element, which counteracts rolling movements of the grenade and can consequently reduce the rolling movement. The rolling preventer according to the invention also has a clearance, by which the rolling preventer can be attached to a grenade. For this purpose, the grenade is inserted through the clearance and the rolling preventer is thereby fastened to the grenade. Also proposed is a grenade, with a housing, an actuating element and a safety device, wherein the grenade is equipped with a rolling preventer according to the invention.

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2018/068334, which was filed on Jul. 6, 2018, andwhich claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2017 115792.1, which was filed in Germany on Jul. 13, 2017, and to German PatentApplication No. 10 2017 117 660.8, which was filed in Germany on Aug. 3,2017 and which are all herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rolling preventer for reducingrolling movements of a grenade.

Description of the Background Art

Due to the geometrical dimensions of a grenade, when it lands it mayundergo rolling movements and, as a result of the rolling movement, mayconsequently leave the target area aimed at.

Corresponding grenades are used by security forces and/or the militaryand are intended to be delivered to a target area as precisely aspossible. The removal from the target due to the rolling movement isconsequently undesired, and should be prevented as far as possible, orat least reduced.

In the present invention, any thrown or launched projectile can beunderstood to be a grenade, as a result of which grenades that are firedfrom launchers and grenades that are thrown manually are correspondinglyincluded. In particular, the present invention is intended for reducingrolling movements for hand grenades.

The present invention likewise relates to a grenade that is providedwith the aforementioned rolling preventer. It is preferably proposed forit to be used for stun grenades, as grenades (such as for example handgrenades) that cause acoustic and optical effects (so-called sound andflash grenades or flash-bang grenades).

Corresponding grenades are already known from the prior art. Thus, forexample, EP 2 359 087 B1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,480,which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a correspondingstun grenade as a grenade, the effect being caused by blow-out openingsthat are arranged on the grenade in the longitudinal direction.

Furthermore, DE 10 2004 059 991 B4, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No.7,721,651, discloses a stun grenade as a grenade which likewise hasblow-out openings in the longitudinal direction by which the desiredeffect is produced, this time the blow-out openings being provided ontwo sides of the stun grenade.

Likewise known as a grenade, for example from DE 92 13 376 U1, is a stungrenade with charges for flash and bang effects, it also being possiblehere for the effects to be produced in the radial direction of thegrenade.

Finally, DE 10 2010 052 210 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No.9,016,205, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses amodular stun grenade as a grenade, in which active charges can beincorporated in a modular manner in the stun grenade.

Conventional grenades are designed with a round base area, andconsequently have the property of undergoing rolling movements afterthey land in the target region. Grenades with a non-round base area alsogenerally have the possibility of undergoing rolling movements whenthrown or launched, and are consequently likewise included by theinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rollingpreventer for grenades and a grenade with such a device with which therolling movement after landing in the target region is decisivelyreduced.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, proposed for thispurpose is a rolling preventer that reduces the rolling movement of agrenade. The rolling preventer has for this purpose at least onehindering element, which is designed so as to be able to slow down orreduce a rolling movement. For this purpose, the hindering element isdesigned such that it counteracts or slows down the rotation during arolling movement.

Similarly, the rolling preventer has a clearance and forms a peripheralcontour around the clearance. This clearance can be formed right throughthe rolling preventer, and consequently provides a hole with aperipheral contour.

This hole, which may be designed as round or angular, allows the rollingpreventer to be attached to the grenade to be used, to be precise suchthat the grenade can be inserted through the hole in the rollingpreventer.

The rolling preventer can be produced from an elastic material, so thatthe corresponding grenade can be inserted into the rolling preventerwith a press fit.

For better attachment of the rolling preventer to a correspondinggrenade, the rolling preventer can be provided with a sloping bevel. Forthis purpose, the side walls of the clearance, and consequently the sidewalls of the hole, are beveled, so that a sloping bevel is produced.This allows the rolling preventer according to the invention to beattached better to the grenade, in that the grenade is inserted into therolling preventer in the direction of the tapering bevel. Theaforementioned press fit or the elasticity of the rolling body makes itpossible for the rolling preventer to be fastened to the grenade.

The rolling preventer can have a center axis; the clearance can bearranged around the center axis. This initially produces a symmetricalrolling preventer. The hindering elements attached thereto then protrudefrom the peripheral contour and, during the rolling movement of thegrenade, and consequently also of the rolling preventer, provide aresistance which counteracts the rolling movement. The rolling movementis thereby slowed down or reduced.

In order to achieve this, at least one hindering element can beprovided, but preferably also a number of hindering elements. These areattached peripherally to the rolling preventer, protruding outwardaround the contour, and may be attached at regular intervals and also atirregular intervals.

It is proposed to design these hindering elements as rectangular, sincethis form offers greatest possible rolling resistance. Similarly, thehindering elements may however also be designed as triangular or in someother form; thus, depending on the desired reduction of the rollingmovement, the rolling preventer can be adjusted correspondingly. Thismakes different rolling preventers possible for different grenades. Itis likewise possible to provide different forms of hindering elements ona rolling preventer.

The corners and edges that occur on the hindering element as a result ofthe aforementioned forms decisively have the effect of causing theprevention or slowing down of the rolling movement. Depending on theunderlying surface on which the rolling movement takes place, prominentcorners and edges can provide an increased slowing effect or reductionof the rolling movement. In a further embodiment, these corners andedges may be correspondingly rounded, and consequently have roundings,in order to be able to adjust the reduction of the rolling movement inaddition to the aforementioned possibilities.

In order to ensure the elasticity of the rolling preventer, it isproposed to produce the rolling preventer from rubber or plastic. Whatis correspondingly important in the choice of material is that thedesired elasticity is ensured and that a sufficiently high force forholding the rolling preventer on the grenade is ensured by theelasticity.

Since grenades that deploy their active charge radially and grenadesthat deploy their active charge in the longitudinal direction are knownfrom the prior art, it is important that, after attaching the rollingpreventer to the grenade, the deployment of the active charges is notimpaired. Consequently, in a particular embodiment, it is proposed tolimit the height of the rolling preventer to a maximum of 10 mm.

A corresponding grenade provided with a rolling preventer according tothe invention preferably has for this purpose a safe region in which therolling preventer is arranged. A safe region on a grenade ischaracterized in that this region neither hinders the encapsulation ofthe grenade, nor lies in the region of means for deploying the activecharge.

Preferably, such a safe region is arranged in the lower region of thegrenade in the longitudinal direction. Often no deployment possibiliesare provided in the vicinity of the bottom of a grenade, so that thisregion represents a safe region. Such a safe region is at least as largeas the maximum height of a rolling preventer according to the invention.Consequently, in this embodiment the height of the safe region islikewise 10 mm, in correlation with the maximum height of the rollingpreventer.

As already described, preferably a hand grenade is proposed as thegrenade, this grenade includes a housing, and also an actuating elementand a safety device. The actuating element can be formed as a hand leverand the safety device ensures that no unwanted actuation takes place.Consequently, the safety device keeps the actuating element in itsnon-actuated position.

The safety device of the hand grenades comprises a safety ring and asafety pin. The safety pin ensures that the actuating element stays inits non-actuating state. The safety pin can be pulled out of itsintended securement by the safety ring, and consequently no longerperform its safety function. After pulling out of the safety pin by thesafety ring, the actuating element can therefore then be actuated.

The aforementioned design means that the present invention is notrestricted just to being used for hand grenades as grenades. Rather,other grenades can also be provided with the rolling preventer accordingto the invention. Unintentional rolling movements take place in the caseof many grenades, whether they are thrown manually or fired by alauncher. Thus, the rolling preventer can also be used for preventingrolling movements of a grenade that is fired by a launcher.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitiveof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a grenade according to the invention with a correspondingrolling preventer;

FIG. 2 shows a rolling preventer according to the invention in sideview; and

FIG. 3 shows a rolling preventer according to the invention in planview.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a grenade 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, with a housing 11, an actuating element 12 and a safetydevice. The housing 11 of the grenade 10 here has a round base area,whereby the housing 11 is likewise designed as round.

The actuating element 12 is designed here as a hand lever, since thegrenade 10 in FIG. 1 is a hand grenade. Preferably, it is a stun grenadethat is designed as a hand grenade.

The safety device can be formed of a safety ring 13, to which a safetypin 14 is attached. The safety pin 14 secures the position of the handlever, and consequently prevents unintentional activation of thegrenade. By pulling on the safety ring 13, the safety pin 14 can bepulled out of its position, and consequently the function of the handlever can be released.

Provided as a peripheral region on the housing 11 of the grenade 10 is asafe region 15, in which no blow-out openings for the deployment of theactive charge of the grenade 10 are arranged. Preferably, this saferegion 15 is arranged at the lower end in the region of the bottom ofthe grenade.

A rolling preventer 1 according to the invention may be attached to thegrenade 10, in that it is arranged in the safe region 15.

For this purpose, a through-clearance is provided within the rollingpreventer, so that the rolling preventer 1 has a peripheral contouraround this clearance. By means of this peripheral contour, the rollingpreventer 1 is attached in the safe region 15 of the grenade 10 suchthat the grenade 10 is inserted through the clearance.

For this purpose, the rolling preventer 1 is preferably formedelastically, so that the grenade 10 can be inserted into the clearanceof the rolling preventer 1 with a press fit. The rolling preventer 1 isthen fastened to the grenade 10 as a result of the elasticity.

In order then to prevent or reduce a rolling movement after throwing orlaunching of the grenade 10, at least one hindering element 2 isattached to the rolling preventer 1. This element is designed such thatit counteracts a rolling movement or ensures a resistance to the rollingmovement. In this way, the rolling movement of the grenade 10 isreduced.

In FIG. 2, the clearance 5 in a rolling preventer 1 according to theinvention is shown. The clearance 5 is designed as passing rightthrough, so that a hole can be seen in the rolling preventer 1.Preferably, the clearance 5 is formed centrally around the center axis 3of the rolling preventer 1.

In order to apply the rolling preventer 1 better to the grenade 10, theouter walls of the clearance 5 are designed as beveled, so that a bevel6 is produced. This makes it easier to attach the rolling preventer 1 toa grenade 10, since the grenade 10 can then be inserted into the sidewith the greater diameter, and the aforementioned press fit of therolling preventer 1 takes place by way of the side with the smallerdiameter of the clearance 5.

Preferably, the maximum height 8 of a rolling preventer 1 according tothe invention is limited, for example to 10 mm, so that it is ensuredthat no elements on the grenade 10 that are intended to make adeployment of the active charge possible are covered by the rollingpreventer 1 according to the invention.

At least one hindering element 2, which is intended to hinder or reducea rolling movement of the grenade 10, is provided on the rollingpreventer 1 according to the invention. These hindering elements 2 arepreferably designed in one piece with the contour 4 of the rollingpreventer 1 and may be arranged at regular intervals and also atirregular intervals around the contour 4.

In FIG. 3, these hindering elements 2 can be seen more clearly. In thisexemplary embodiment, two hindering elements 2 are arranged around thecontour 4. For this purpose, the hindering elements 2 are designed asrectangular and provided with slight roundings 7. By this design of thehindering elements 2, a rolling movement of a grenade 10 is prevented.The extent to which a rolling movement is prevented can be adjusted bythe roundings 7 or the geometrical design of the hindering elements 2.

In order to ensure effective reduction or prevention of the rollingmovement, the hindering elements 2 must have a greater outside diameterthan the grenade 10 that is used.

The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned features.Rather, further designs are conceivable. Thus, a rolling preventeraccording to the invention could be produced from soft, deformablemetal, the work of deformation as a result of the rotational energycausing a reduction of the rolling movements of the grenade at thehindering elements. Similarly, snap-in connections, whereby the rollingpreventer according to the invention is attached to the grenade, couldbe provided for a more precise positioning of the rolling preventeraccording to the invention.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rolling preventer for reducing rollingmovements of a grenade, the rolling preventer comprising: at least onehindering element; and a clearance so that the rolling preventer has aperipheral contour around the clearance.
 2. The rolling preventer asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling preventer has a center axisaround which the clearance is arranged.
 3. The rolling preventer asclaimed in claim 1, wherein side walls of the clearance are designed asa sloping bevel.
 4. The rolling preventer as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe peripheral contour has corners and edges that have roundings.
 5. Therolling preventer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling preventeris produced from an elastic material, rubber or plastic.
 6. The rollingpreventer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling preventer has aheight which is dimensioned to a maximum of 10 mm.
 7. The rollingpreventer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hindering elements have arectangular or triangular form.
 8. A grenade comprising: a housing; anactuating element; and a safety device; and a rolling preventer asclaimed in claim
 1. 9. The grenade as claimed in claim 8, wherein thesafety device includes a safety ring and a safety pin.
 10. The grenadeas claimed in claim 8, wherein a safe region is provided, at which therolling preventer is arranged.
 11. The grenade as claimed in claim 8,wherein the grenade is a hand grenade.
 12. The grenade as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the grenade is a stun grenade.
 13. The grenade asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the grenade has blow-out openings in alongitudinal direction with respect to the housing.
 14. The grenade asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the grenade has blow-out openings in aradial direction with respect to the housing.